Mobile Board of Adjustment Meeting - August 4, 2025: Variance Decisions and Approvals
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Mobile Board of Adjustment Meeting - August 4, 2025
The Mobile Board of Adjustment met on August 4, 2025, at 4:00 PM to consider eleven applications for variances, special exceptions, and extensions. The board approved all items, with some subject to conditions, and granted one holdover. The meeting also included a report on pending litigation and approval of past meeting minutes.
Consent Calendar
- Agenda Approval: The agenda was approved unanimously via voice vote.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Item 8 (401 St. Louis Street): Tommy Lee (217 North Jackson Street, Mobile) spoke in support of the townhouse project, stating it would be a great addition and that he and his wife had met with the developer to review details.
- Item 2 (357 Coventry Way): Staff noted 14 written public comments and a petition with approximately 14 signatures, all opposed to the proposed duplex conversion. The applicant acknowledged receiving the petition late and did not have time to meet with neighbors.
Discussion Items
- Item 1: Extension for 6643/6468 (4519 Cypress Business Park) – Alan Reimer, designer, requested a three-month extension for a previously approved adjustment due to storm delays and engineering issues. The board initially moved for three months but amended to six months per the applicant's stated need. Approved 6-0 (one opposed).
- Item 2: 6683 (357 Coventry Way) – Charles Zunter sought a variance to convert a single-family home to a duplex on an R-1 zoned lot. Issues included substandard parking and lack of compliance documentation. Mr. Morris suggested a holdover to allow community meetings. The applicant requested a 30-day holdover to the September 8, 2025 meeting. Holdover approved unanimously.
- Item 3: 6684 (3050 Old Shell Road) – Justin Arrata (Pinnacle Fencing) requested a use variance for contractor storage (laydown yard) on a B-2 lot adjacent to R-1. Discussion focused on fencing, buffers, and runoff. The board approved with conditions including a 6-foot painted wood privacy fence, 15-foot vegetated buffer on sides abutting residential, and all staff recommendations except condition #7. Approved 6-1.
- Item 4: 6685 (960 South Lawrence Street) – Paul Davis requested variances for building setback and parking for a takeout restaurant. The board was familiar with the site from prior visits. Approved unanimously.
- Item 5: 6686 (850 Marion Street) – Chester Lakowitz (Alabama Power) requested a special exception to build an electrical substation on an R-2 zoned site. The substation would increase reliability and replace an older facility. The board approved subject to 10 conditions including landscaping, masonry wall, and setback compliance. Approved 6-0 (one abstention/opposed not clearly counted).
- Item 6: 6687 (300 St. Louis Street) – Harry Camanis returned with revised plans (cast iron columns instead of stone) for a building height and frontage variance. Approved unanimously.
- Item 7: 6688 (1809 Dolphin Street) – Cartled Blackwell requested a variance to allow a solid brick wall taller than 3 feet in the front/middle setback for a single-family home. Applicant provided examples of similar fences. No opposition. Approved unanimously.
- Item 8: 6689 (401 St. Louis Street) – Eric Wadsworth (architect) sought variances for a townhouse project, including frontage type, setbacks, and garage door materials. Staff cited 14 CRC recommendations. Board approved with conditions 1-3 and a directive to follow DDD guidelines. Approved unanimously.
- Item 9: 6690 (St. Louis and Claiborne) – Eric Wadsworth presented a 32-unit multifamily mixed-use building with retail. Variances sought for frontage type, signage, and zoning compliance. Board held the applicant to the submitted site plan and elevations. Approved unanimously.
- Item 10: 6691 (3201 Airport Boulevard) – Brandon Black (Kimley-Horn) requested signage variances for a Target store (replacement of bullseye sign and new drive-up sign). CVS signage to remain. Approved unanimously.
- Item 11: 6692 (700 West I-65 Service Road South) – Jay Watkins sought a density variance from 25 to 38.1 units per acre for a 240-unit multifamily redevelopment of a former hotel site. The project is in a Priority Investment Area. The applicant indicated a future height variance may be needed. Board approved with findings of fact and staff conditions. Approved unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- All applications approved (some with conditions) except item 2 which was held over to September 8, 2025.
- Pending Litigation Report: Mr. Anderson reported that the Dolphinway Griffith Shell Station appeal was withdrawn by the neighborhood; the Renita Smith appeal was won on summary judgment; and the St. Ignatius case is set for trial on September 22, 2025.
- Minutes Approved: Minutes from seven prior meetings (July 10, 2023; April 3, 2023; December 4, 2023; September 9, 2024; October 7, 2024; November 4, 2024; December 2, 2024) were approved unanimously.
Meeting Transcript
All right, good afternoon, everyone. We're gonna call this August 4th 2025 Board of Adjustment Order. First, let me go over a few of the rules and basics of the meeting, and then uh then we'll get started. So, first of all, um I'd ask if you got electronic device that you put it on silent or off so that we don't have a disturbance and remind the board members to do so as well. Also, for the board members, remember to turn their mic on when they're uh making a statement or a motion. So as we call the agenda, each applicant will have an opportunity to speak for five minutes. Um we'll allow four people to speak in support of it, a request for variance, and then four to speak in opposition. If if you have more than four for either support or opposition, please pick your four so that we'll have those lined up and and you can come down and give us your name and address for the record and then your statement. Um then the applicant will get a two-minute opportunity for a rebuttal, and then we'll proceed with the final discussion of the board and deliberation and then a decision at that time. If you have any comments or statements, direct them to the board, not to others in the audience, not to the staff, unless we call for you to do so. I have the liberty based on questions and discussion to extend the time if I think it's necessary for our decision to be adequately covered. The um board will have a vote. If you got a question regarding our decision, you can call the planning department 251-208-5895, and uh we'll see. It takes five members to vote to affirm a motion or to deny could be just based on a failure to get a vote to approve. And with that, I'll call for roll call and then we'll get started with approval of the agenda. So starting with Mr. Metcalf, Mr. Golden? Yeah, Mr. Milling Absent, Mr. Carroll, yeah, Mr. Morris here, Ms. Farrell, Mr. Adison, yeah, Mr. Williams. Okay, absent. Um Mr. Addison is serving in a supernumerary position where he fills in, and uh based on the absence of Mr. Milling, we have a need for the supernumerary, so we'll proceed. And with that, we also have the quorum, so we can proceed based on having the adequate number of members present. So with that, Chair Call, and I'm William Guess, by the way. Uh Chair, call for approval of the agenda. Move for approval, Mr. Chair. I have a motion to approve the agenda. Do I have a second? Second. Have a second. Any further discussion? All those in favor say aye. Aye. Anyone opposed? Agenda is approved as presented. So we'll go in order based on our agenda. And the first item on the agenda is an extension for 6643, 6468 regarding 4519 Cypress Business Park. Is the applicant here? Okay, your name and address, sir. Yeah, let's turn your mic on. Um, it's it's up on the base. Yeah, we'll help you.
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